Sir Roslind of Aksson, fierce and unyielding, is not the only female knight; but she is few among men who cling to older ways. And while whispers of disdain are so easily heard in a land pushing beyond tradition, whispers of rebellion are more subtle, more insidious; and much more costly to ignore.
As the waves of religious reformation crash upon the shores of Aksson, a disgruntled son learns the error of his ways; a traitor leads an unexpected defence; an embattled cougari unsheathes his claws; and one who hides in plain sight will open the gates to a fearsome enemy with ancestral zeal in their hearts.
The Baron of Aksson is a powerful man, proud and ruthless; but he is fading, betrayal already at his door. As his daughter returns from years of training, she must prove her mettle in the fires of the old world as the siege bears down upon the great port city.
Gary J. Martin writes in the fantasy genre which he has always loved ever since he was the fifth hobbit, ‘No-go’, in Lord of the Rings, (in his mind). Gary also writes poetry which he has appreciated ever since he was a ‘pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas’, a sample of which appears in our 'Channel the Dark' anthology.
Gary holds degrees in Greek & Roman Civilisation and English Literature from University College Dublin, from where he also graduated with a Master of Science in Computer Forensics and Cybercrime Investigation. Gary has been a member of An Garda Síochána (the Irish Police Force) for over twenty-three years, where he has worked in several Dublin Garda Stations and as a United Nations Peacekeeper overseas.
When he is not writing, Gary enjoys skiing, scuba-diving, playing guitar and bass, and totally nerding out with his friends during their Dungeons & Dragons sessions. Gary lives in Dublin with his wife and is a co-caregiver to an elderly Shih Tzu named Fibi.
